Shor aaya ese to, tu befikar hai kyu?
Sharmai manzile tu bekhabar hai kyu?
Rango se Dosti hai maine bhi Kari,
Kya hai tu sochti mujhko bhi bata

Tune kaha, maine sun Liya
Tune kaha, maine sun Liya
Tune kaha, maine sun Liya
Tune kaha, maine sun Liya
═❋═❋═

I raised the cup of coffee bringing it to my lips taking a sip, I glanced at the large hanging clock at the airport as it strikes five o'clock, it was getting chilly now putting on my jacket I glanced at the exit again for the tenth time, she was not here still but then I caught a glimpse of her brown hair, she was waving as she walked with her luggage with a toothy grin playing on her lips.

I fought back the urge of running and pulling her in my embrace but everyone from our families was here to pick her up from the airport much to my dismay.

As she walked in our direction I took my fine time to admire her, some people walk into your life unknowingly becoming the most important part. I never thought that Mihika would become that part of my life.

"Viraj stop gawking at her" and for a moment I forgot Kabir was also here with us.
"Shut up dude" I punched his arm.

She was looking breathtakingly beautiful. I don't know if this is what love means when you are around that person it becomes hard for you to breathe, and whenever you are standing next to each other you feel like your body is on fire, all you want to do is hold them close to you, how they affect every moment of your life with their mere presence.

"Hi, Kabir" she greets him, with a big grin on her face.

I arched my eyebrow at her she greeted everyone her family, my parents, and then Kabir am I invisible to her.

"Hey" her voice is low and if I'm seeing it correctly she is blushing.

"Hey" I wanted to pull her into a hug, we are seeing each other after two months it was the hardest time for me. When Mihika told me she needed a break I thought like to think but her meaning of break was going away from Jaipur for some time so she can think and cope with the loss of Anay in her way.

She left for Shimla after one week of our talk, I didn't want her to go obviously but it was what she needed and I promised her that she will always have my support no matter what.

"Did you miss me?" her voice low, I noticed she got a haircut.

"What do you think?" even though we spoke on call almost every day, and texted but still I missed her like anything.

In these past two months, our relationship has changed a lot, my feelings for her have escalated into something which cannot be articulated in words. I guess if I have to say I want to spend my whole life with her, wake up next to her, leaving all the worries behind, I want to captivate all her senses just like she manages to do that every time she is near me. I know both of us aren't perfect we have our demons to fight but I want to hold only and only her hand whilst fighting them.

Everyone has a past, and sometimes the burden becomes so heavy to carry and that can be put down if we both try together, with Mihika it feels like I can conquer anything call me cliche but that is true. Mihika is the one I want to have a deep conversation with without any awkward pause between us, as we let see each other's vulnerabilities. I never expected myself to be in love but when she looked at me and let me see her frailty letting go off any mask we put on to protect ourselves from getting hurt I knew I'm damned and I knew in those moments nothing will be ever same for me now.

Perhaps, if she allows me to love her the way she deserves to be I want us to be tangled in love, our fingers intertwined, perhaps if she allows I want to be her poetic kiss, I want to love her harder every time things are breaking apart, perhaps if she allows me I want us to watch the sunset together which I learned she loves so much.

"I think you missed me "her sweet voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

"Come on let's go, Saari baatein yahi kar leni hai tum logo ko" Kabir snaps at us, he is been a cranky ass for a week now. (Come on let's, you guys are going to talk about everything here only)

"Dude, what's happening with you?" I asked him pulling aside from everyone.

"Nothing man, just frustrated about this case I've been assigned to" he frustratingly pulls his hair I have never seen him like this.

"Forget about all this, Mihika is back spend some time with her and grow some balls ask her to marry you" he whispers as she was walking behind us.

"I will when the time is right".
"Okay, but I call shotgun," he says jumping in the passenger seat.

We left for her house, she was sitting in the back, sometimes I'm surprised he is a police officer because at times he behaves like a child.

I caught a glimpse of her through the mirror, she was looking out the window with her earphones plugged in I wonder what is going on in her mind.

Is she thinking about me? Is she thinking about us? What will be her answer if I ask her? Will she accept me?

I know I can never replace Anay, won't even think of doing so but I want to be the first person who she comes to whenever there is any problem, I want her to hear all my stories and listen to all of hers, I wish for the day when we will be in each other's arms talking about what excites us, what makes us sad, which movie brings tears, how does she like her popcorn. Every little detail I want to share with her and I wish she does the same.

Every little detail of her is making me fall in love all over again, the way she fidgets with the border of her dupatta whenever she is worried about something, how she plays with the necklace when she is thinking about something, and when she is turning red she tugs hair behind her hair.

"Stop staring at her man and concentrate on the road" Kabir's little whispering voice pulls me out of my reverie.
"I'm not staring I'm just observing" I countered.

"Oh like hell you are" he scoffs.

"Shut up Kabir," I said punching him and he just glares at me.
"We'll talk about this later," he says in a hushed voice.

"Guys I'm sitting right here so you don't have to whisper, and throw punches at each other" Mihika's voice makes both of our heads turn in her direction, she was listening to us the whole time.

"Yes Viraj I was listening to you the whole time besides you guys are not that good at whispering," she says reading my mind. Whoa!

"Anyway I'm starving should we stop to grab a bite," she says putting her phone and earphones in her bag.

"Sure, sure" I replied.

She looks like a changed person, if I'm being specific she looks content in herself like she has accepted the fate it is good for her because not even a single person in her life can see her like that broken, filled with darkness, what I got to know from Anay and her family that she is the ray of hope filled with positivity and love, care for everyone that is around her even though they don't reciprocate the same way. I had always known most of the family members from Anay's family weren't really on board with their marriage but she never said or behaved badly towards any of them.

I stopped the car on the way cafe "should we eat here?" I asked looking at Mihika.
"Okay" she replies and we three got down the car.

"I should probably inform everyone at home that it will be a little late for us," Mihika says.

Kabir and I found the table for us to sit "so Viraj when you are going to tell her?" He continues to ask the same thing, for which even I don't have the answer because I don't know if this is the right time to ask. I mean both our families even Anay's family is ready for us to get married but I haven't asked Mihika anything officially.

"I don't know" I replied in an irritated tone.
He keeps his mouth shut probably sensing my mood is foul at the moment.

"Okay, so I informed everyone" Mihika enters the cafe sitting down beside me.

"Did you two order something?" She asks scanning the menu card.

"Nope not yet, we were waiting for you," Kabir says.

We ordered our food, my heart was beating erratically against my chest it is hard to sit beside her when all I can think about holding her hand, looking into her eyes those beautiful brown eyes, I always thought brown eyes are dull but whenever I look in those beautiful brown pools of her looking like melted chocolate, warm cappuccino, it does something to me.

I'm so whipped.

I have never felt this way for anyone, I was never the guy who would go for a casual fling, and Mihika just brings out the part which I didn't know I had, she brings out the feelings which I didn't know I had in me or even was capable of, though thinking that I will never be the one who will make her feel something like this for the first time saddens me but then thinking I might be the last one to make her feel that way, give her butterflies fills me with happiness and warmth.

God, I was never even this insecure I never cared if someone likes me or not, getting anyone's approval was never the problem for me but since I met Mihika all I want her to accept me. I can't even think of staying away from her even if I have to stay friends with her.

Though I will be lying if I say I'm not going to be heartbroken but she is the first woman I have ever felt something for, with so much passion and willingness to give all of me.

"Viraj back to earth" Mihika snaps her fingers in front of my face.

The food was served, and Kabir was the first one to dig in "I'll be back guys" Kabir leaves abruptly.

Say something Viraj. At least construct a goddamn sentence.

I want to say something and ask her so many questions but why it is so difficult for me. I'm dying to know what she feels yet here we are sitting in silence. I looked outside Kabir was on his phone I suppose. We talked so much on call but right now none of us have anything to say it seems.

Why isn't she saying anything?

What is so interesting about her phone right now? Maybe she doesn't want to talk.

Kabir came back after a while "so guys...he trails off looking at both of us but only met with silence.

"Let's finish eating and leave everyone must be waiting" and suddenly I was feeling pissed off. Once we were done, we were back on the road and this time Kabir decided to drive because Mister was feeling like he should and thinks he is a better driver than me.

Idiot.

After the drive for an hour or so we reached Mihika's place at the door we were greeted by everyone she touched everyone's feet taking their ashirwad "How was your trip?" Anay's Dadi asks, I didn't know she was here too. When Anay's parents informed her about us getting married she was so angry at the idea but when Uncle talked to her tried to reason she understood that it is best for Mihika.

This just swells my heart looking at so many people who only want the best for Mihika love her and want her in their lives even though Anay is gone in some families widows don't get this much love or support from their in-laws. Anay was lucky to have such a family.

I always envied him for this reason even though I'm an only child my parents never left me at my grandparent's home, or I hardly know any of my cousins. My parents were always running after money and they expected the same from me, being the best version of me so no one even dares to look at me without fear in their eyes and I have always hated that feeling.

Everyone fell into their conversation "come let's talk" Kabir pulled me outside the house, taking a stroll in the garden Mihika told me once that this is her favorite place in her whole house.

"What is it, Kabir?" I questioned as we sat down on the swing.

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean Viraj, you were looking at her the whole ride there and when I left you two to talk both of you were sitting like strangers" so he left us on purpose.

He is not completely useless.

"I don't know I wanted to talk but nothing came out as if...I trailed off my mind is uncertain at the moment I don't know what will be the right thing to say I just don't want to hurt her in any way.

Kabir let out a sigh before speaking again "look Viraj when Mihika left she said she needed time to think to be away from everyone and now she is back and to me, she looks pretty content and happy which none of us thought will happen, no one should face the things she faced but look at her she looks stronger than she was" he explains.

I know Kabir is right, but what if ...maybe I'm thinking too much.

"Now get your ass back inside and talk to her" he punches my arm.

Asshole.

I got up from the swing and saw her standing behind us.

Fuck!

"Can we talk?" She asks playing with her necklace.

I nodded and Kabir left us alone.

"Do you wanna sit or walk?" I asked nervously. Oh man, I'm a nervous mess around her.
"Sitting is fine," she says sitting down relaxed on the swing.

"So what do you wanna talk about?" I dared to ask the stupid question, of course I know what she wants to talk about.
"You already know Viraj" is she blushing, or have I started daydreaming now.

Well, Viraj congratulations you have officially lost your mind.

"I don't know how to put this" she chuckles nervously and yet looks so beautiful.

Get grip on your thoughts Viraj Rathore.

"Put it however you want to, I'm ready to accept your decision may whatever that is".

She exhales then looks at me" Thank you for not giving up on me even when I didn't give you any reason to do so, thank you for being there when I needed someone the most to hold me, thank you for loving me" the last sentence made my breath hitch, today her eyes were speaking the unspoken something I have been yearning to see for a long time.

She tucked her hair shyly behind her ears "also I might never be able to love anyone like I love Anay, he will always be my first but if you are willing you can be my last" something changed at that moment and I was lost, I was lost in her enticed by her.

"I want to be in your arms, leaving all the worries behind, be my anchor, be my home, where I don't have to think twice before coming to" she continues.

My heart...oh my heart was beating so fast I can hear it beating in my ears my face probably looks pale because it was getting hard for me to breathe.

"Viraj are you okay?" She moves an inch closer to me.

Don't lose it, she just confessed she wants to be with you, hold it together.

My mind giving me a pep talk which is much needed right now.

"Are you sure you are okay?" She asks with a concerned look.

And now her hand slowly moved to my chest "whoa your heart" she chuckles at how fast it was beating.

Her cheeks turned into a dark shade of red "I uh... don't know what to say" I said clearing my throat to make my voice sound normal.
She laughs heartily " It's okay I get it, your eyes and your heart gave it away" her hand still on my chest.

"This is not a dream right?" I touch her face just to be sure.
She laughs at my antics "this is not a dream Viraj, I'm here".

I looked at her for a brief moment "I promise to love you every day, pour your heart out and I promise you that I will keep you safe" I finally managed to say something, as I kissed her forehead.

"And I would love to be your last always and forever" I added.

Our lives had not been what we both anticipated them to be, but it never is now as I'm sitting here with Mihika I believe that fate has its way of planning things for us. At this moment I knew my life is perfect because I have never thought that I will ever find love but here we are every part of my soul belongs to her.

We all have so many versions of ourselves, and all my versions are head over heels for her.

We both were tangled with darkness in our ways when we found each other but as they say, there is always light at the end of the tunnel and Mihika is that light in my life just as I know in my heart I'm hers.

••••

Finally the end.

I hope you guys liked the chapter, please share your thoughts.

What do you think about Viraj and Mihika?

Also, I'm not going to write an Epilogue because this is the best end I could give them writing an Epilogue would just look like a drag to their story which I don't want.

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